Latest news with #17thModernRailwaysexhibition
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Business Standard
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
China's 600 kmph Maglev train turns 5.5-hour trip into 2.5-hour ride
In a bold leap toward the future of high-speed travel, China has unveiled its fastest ground transport vehicle yet — a sleek maglev train capable of hitting speeds up to 600 kmph, South China Morning Post reported. Revealed at a major rail exhibition in Beijing, the futuristic train reflects China's growing ambition to lead the global high-speed rail revolution and dramatically cut travel times between major cities. A high-speed maglev train developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) was officially presented to the public at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition in Beijing. With a top speed of 600 kmph (373 mph), this is China's most advanced ground transport project yet. Designed to transform city-to-city travel According to Shanghai-based news outlet The Paper, the train is meant to function as a 'point-to-point transport tool' connecting major cities. At 600 kmph, a trip from Beijing to Shanghai — a distance of about 1,200 km — could be reduced from 5.5 hours by current high-speed rail to just 2.5 hours. Shao Nan, a senior engineer at CRRC, said the aim is to bridge 'the speed gap between high-speed rail and aviation within 2,000 km'. The news report quoted him as saying that the new train would combine the punctuality and safety of rail travel with the speed advantages of flying. Clean, quiet, and energy efficient The maglev train uses superconducting electric magnetic levitation technology, which offers an environmentally friendly solution with no emissions, low operating noise, and reduced friction due to its non-contact design. At speeds above 150 kmph, the train levitates above the track using electromagnetic induction. Below that speed, it moves on rubber wheels. Shao also highlighted the train's fully automated driving system, which integrates 5G communication, AI video analysis, acoustic sensors, and various monitoring tools along the route to ensure safe and efficient operation, the news report said. A long journey of maglev development China first launched a maglev train in 2003, with a German-built link between Shanghai Pudong International Airport and the city. In 2016, the country introduced its first domestically built maglev in Changsha, followed by another line in Beijing in 2017. However, these earlier versions were low-speed, with maximum speeds around 120 kmph. CRRC's high-speed maglev is just one of many ambitious transport projects in China. In 2023, China conducted a successful test run of a maglev hyperloop, aiming for speeds of up to 1,000 kmph using low-pressure vacuum tubes and magnetic propulsion. In another major breakthrough this May, researchers from the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation said they developed an AI-guided suspension system to reduce the vibrations passengers might experience at extremely high speeds. Challenges ahead for next-gen rail travel Despite the exciting progress, experts warn of significant challenges ahead. The construction of high-speed maglev and hyperloop systems demands huge investments and advanced infrastructure. Specialised superconducting magnets, dedicated tracks, and engineering expertise are essential — making large-scale deployment a complex task, the news report said. China's growing high-speed rail network, already the world's largest with 48,000 km of track and plans to cross 50,000 km in 2025, signals its commitment to shaping the future of global transport.
AllAfrica
2 days ago
- Automotive
- AllAfrica
China accelerates its maglev train to catch up with Japan
China previewed its new magnetic levitation (maglev) train, boasting a maximum speed of 600 kilometers per hour (373 miles per hour), in a recent event after completing the first phase of its engineering design. If successfully built and operated, this bullet train can catch up with Japan's fastest maglev train: the L0 Series, which achieved a record speed of 603 km per hour (375 mph) during a test run in April 2015. The L0 Series trains run at a maximum speed of 500 km per hour (311 mph) in commercial service, offering a journey time of 1 hour 7 minutes between Tokyo and Osaka. China's new maglev train, developed by China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), was displayed at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition in Beijing from July 8 to 10. China State Railway Group and the International Union of Railways (UIC) also co-hosted the 12th World Congress on High-Speed Rail at the same venue. The vehicle can travel between Beijing and Shanghai in 2.5 to three hours, compared with the four-hour journey achieved by the current high-speed train. In China, the Shanghai Maglev is currently the fastest train in commercial operation, reaching 430 km per hour (267 mph) between Shanghai Pudong Airport and Longyang Road station. It used technology developed by Transrapid International, a joint venture between Siemens and Thyssenkrupp in Germany. 'The new superconducting maglev train will be used to supplement the existing network to implement point-to-point transportation,' said Shao Nan, a senior engineer at CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles. 'It can fill the speed gap between high-speed rail and aviation within 2,000 km per hour (1,243 mph).' She said the vehicle will move on rubber wheels when its speed is below 150 km per hour and will be lifted by magnetic fields when moving faster than that. Footage from the state-owned China Central Television showed an animation about how the rubber wheels are retracted before the train enters a maglev mode. Shao added that the first phase of the train's engineering was completed in July last year. She said the company will carry out more route and safety tests and engineering viability assessments for the train before deploying the train for commercial use. CRRC Changchun did not announce any roadmap for the train's commercial operation. It also did not disclose any information about how the train was designed and built, or whether any foreign partners were involved. This train likely came from the same project as the CRRC 600, which was developed by CRRC Qingdao Sifang (CRRC Changchun's sister company) using Transrapid technology under license from the German firm Thyssenkrupp. Back in 2016, CRRC announced that it would develop a maglev train with a designed top speed of 600 km per hour. In July 2018, CRRC and Thyssenkrupp signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on technology cooperation, targeting applications in the fields of smart mobility, magnetic technology, environmental protection, and renewable energy. In July 2021, Xinhua reported that CRRC Qingdao Sifang, a fully-owned unit of CRRC, 'self-developed' the CRRC 600. The company allowed visitors to experience for themselves inside the train's cabin. In September 2023, it displayed the same train at the 2023 World Manufacturing Convention in Hefei, Anhui province. An academic paper published by a group of Chinese and German mechanical engineers in March 2023 showed a close partnership between CRRC Qingdao Sifang and Thyssenkrupp. In February 2024, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy probe into CRRC Qingdao Sifang over its bid for a €610 million (US$712 million) Bulgarian public procurement contract to provide electric trains, along with maintenance and staff training. The EC stopped the investigation after CRRC Qingdao Sifang withdrew its bid. Now, the CRRC Changchun has become the project manager of CRRC's new maglev train. An article published by China Youth Net, a unit of the Communist Youth League of China, said that, from the perspective of commercial value or future applications, high-speed maglev lines are more suitable for use between some large urban clusters with high-end passenger traffic. It added that, from the energy consumption perspective, the longer the distance the more obvious the comprehensive benefits and advantages. 'If high-speed maglev lines only serve Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, the passenger flow will be far from enough,' the article said. 'Besides, ticket prices for these maglev trains will have to be higher than those of the existing high-speed railways in the future.' Citing industry experts, the article said it will take a long time before CRRC's new maglev train can begin commercial operations. Some analysts have pointed out that weak market demand, rather than maglev technology, is the main obstacle for China to accelerate its high-speed train. In February this year, a group of Chinese commentators said a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) had found that China's high-speed railway saw an 'about 100 billion yuan of total loss' in the nine months ending December 31, 2024. A article also said China's high-speed railway network was 45,000 kilometers at the end of 2023, but only 2,300 kilometers, or 6% of the total, could make a profit. Read: China's fast-growing high-speed railway network faces reality
India.com
3 days ago
- India.com
Delhi to Kolkata in less than 2.5 hours? This train can cover 1,200 km distance in just 150 minutes, top speed to be..., it is developed by...
Representational Image/ AI-generated. New Delhi: Move over, airplanes — Beijing has successfully tested magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology, with the potential to make trains even faster than jets. According to the reports, Maglev technology trains will be able to cover 1,200km distance in just 150 minutes. The South China Morning Post reported that the superfast Maglev, travelling the 1,200km distance between Beijing and Shanghai, could slash the present travel time of 5.5 hours by high-speed rail to as little as 2.5 magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology is introduced in India, the journey between Delhi and Kolkata could take less than 2.5 hours. It is important to note that the train was unveiled this week at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition. The supersonic train is capable of reaching speeds up to 600 km per hour in just 7 seconds. Faster than a plane: The Chinese have used opposing magnetic fields in Maglev technology to lift the train off its track. This process helped the train to reduce the friction and allows for smoother, quieter, and faster movement. In its latest trial at Donghu Laboratory in China's Hubei Province — conducted in June — 1.1-ton Maglev train accelerated to 404 mph in under 7 seconds across a 1,968-foot track. This breakthrough follows a 2023 test in which the same technology reached speeds over 620 mph — surpassing the typical cruising speed of passenger jets, which ranges between 547 and 575 mph, according to Newsweek. Here are some of the key details: Beijing has successfully tested magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology, potentially enabling trains to travel faster than aircraft. The Chinese have used opposing magnetic fields in Maglev technology to lift the train off its track. This process helped the train to reduce the friction and allows for smoother, quieter, and faster movement. The test was conducted inside a vacuum tube designed to simulate near-zero air resistance. This breakthrough uses high-temperature superconducting levitation, allowing frictionless, silent travel at record speeds. Engineers at Donghu Laboratory expect to complete the full construction of their high-speed track by the end of 2025, as per Newsweek. What does the Maglev train look like? The train is being developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) The new high-speed maglev train boasts a sleek, aerodynamic design with a pointed nose to minimize air resistance. State broadcaster CCTV shared footage of the new train's futuristic interior The train features a spacious cabin and large digital screens. CRRC's new high-speed maglev train is one of several advanced transport projects under way in China.
Mint
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Faster than airplane: China's maglev train redefines rail travel, can cover 1,200 km distance in just 150 minutes
With a top speed of 600km per hour, China is all set to define railway travel where a 1,200km distance can be covered in just 150 minutes. Yes, you read it right. Beijing has successfully tested a magnetic levitation (Maglev) technology which could see trains travel faster than planes. The train — unveiled this week at the 17th Modern Railways exhibition — is capable of reaching speeds up to 600 km per hour in just 7 seconds. This effectively means that the superfast Maglev travelling the 1,200km distance between Beijing and Shanghai could slash the present travel time of 5.5 hours by high-speed rail to as little as 2.5 hours, which is 150 minutes, reported the South China Morning Post. Maglev technology uses opposing magnetic fields to lift the train off its track, which reduces friction and allows for smoother, quieter, and faster movement. In its latest trial at Donghu Laboratory in China's Hubei Province — conducted in June — 1.1-ton Maglev train accelerated to 404 mph in under 7 seconds across a 1,968-foot track. The latest development comes after a previous test in 2023, where the same technology clocked speeds exceeding 620 mph — faster than passenger jets in flight, which typically travel at around 547 to 575 mph, reported Newsweek. The test was conducted inside a vacuum tube designed to simulate near-zero air resistance. This breakthrough uses high-temperature superconducting levitation, allowing frictionless, silent travel at record speeds. Engineers at Donghu Laboratory expect to complete the full construction of their high-speed track by the end of 2025, as per Newsweek. Developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC), the new high-speed maglev train boasts a sleek, aerodynamic design with a pointed nose to minimize air resistance. According to the SCMP, State broadcaster CCTV shared footage of the new train's futuristic interior, featuring a spacious cabin and large digital screens. CRRC's new high-speed maglev train is one of several advanced transport projects under way in China.
